Poinsettia plant named ‘NPCW15237’

ABSTRACT

A new poinsettia plant particularly distinguished by having bright red bracts, a triangular plant form, an upright growth habit, and good keeping quality, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Euphorbia pulcherrima.

Variety denomination: ‘NPCW15237’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety ofpoinsettia, botanically known as Euphorbia pulcherrima and hereinafterreferred to by the variety name ‘NPCW15237’. ‘NPCW15237’ was derived asa selection from the 2009 self-pollination in Nairobi, Kenya of thepoinsettia ‘NPCW10164’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,597) which iscommercially known as ‘Christmas Day’, having red bracts.

In October 2010, a single bright red plant was selected in Stuttgart,Germany from lines of the self-pollination of poinsettia ‘NPCW10164’. InMay 2011, ‘NPCW15237’ was first asexually propagated by apicalvegetative cuttings. ‘NPCW15237’ was found to reproduce true to type insuccessive generations of asexual propagation via vegetative cuttings inStuttgart, Germany.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. Bright red bracts;    -   2. A triangular plant form;    -   3. An upright growth habit; and    -   4. Good keeping quality.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new poinsettia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographwhich shows an overall view of the plant. The photograph is of a plantapproximately seventeen-weeks-old grown indoors in Stuttgart, Germany inNovember 2013. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonablyobtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘NPCW15237’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inStuttgart, Germany. Data was collected on nineteen-week-old plants(after potting) grown indoors in Stuttgart, Germany under greenhouseconditions in November 2015. Color references are to The R.H.S. ColourChart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th)edition (2007).

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Euphorbiaceae.        -   Species.—Euphorbia pulcherrima.        -   Common name.—Poinsettia.        -   Variety.—‘NPCW15237’.-   Parentage: Selection from the self-pollination of poinsettia    ‘NPCW10164’.-   Growth:    -   -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—4 weeks.        -   Blooming habit.—Intermittent.        -   Flowering response time.—Approximately 52 days.        -   Keeping quality.—Good.-   Plant description:    -   -   Form.—Triangular.        -   Growth habit.—Upright (broad angle).        -   Height.—25.0 cm to 30.0 cm.        -   Width.—About 25.0 cm.        -   Number of branches.—5 to 7.        -   Average number of inflorescences per plant.—6.        -   Disease and pest resistance.—None observed.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cuttings.—Apical cuttings.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—4 weeks.        -   Rooting habit and root color.—Freely branching and root            color is RHS NN 155D.-   Lateral branches:    -   -   Color.—RHS 143A overlaid with RHS 183A.        -   Length.—16.0 cm to 18.0 cm.        -   Internode length.—1.0 cm to 3.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.5 cm to 1.0 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching.        -   Number of lateral branches per plant.—5 to 7.        -   Texture.—Smooth.-   Leaves:    -   -   Quantity.—5 to 6 per lateral branch.        -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Number of lobes on the leaf blade.—0 to 2.        -   Depth of the deepest sinus of the leaf blade.—0.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Length.—7.0 cm to 11.0 cm.        -   Width.—5.0 cm to 8.0 cm.        -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth.        -   Vein color.—Upper surface: Transparent. Lower surface: RHS            139D.        -   Variegation.—Absent.        -   Venation pattern.—Reticulate.        -   Color.—Mature foliage: Upper surface: RHS 139A. Lower            surface: RHS 137B. Immature foliage: Upper surface: RHS            144B. Lower surface: RHS 143C.        -   Leaf petiole.—Length: 2.0 cm to 4.0 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm to            0.3 cm. Color: Upper (part) surface: RHS 184A. Lower (part)            surface: RHS 184A with a greenish background. Texture:            Smooth. Strength: Medium.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Lastingness of inflorescence on the plant.—3 weeks.        -   Natural flowering season.—End of November.        -   Diameter.—19.0 cm to 25.0 cm.        -   Height.—2.0 cm to 4.0 cm.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.-   Bracts:    -   -   Number of bracts per inflorescence.—7 to 8.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Size.—Length: 8.0 cm to 11.0 cm. Width: 5.0 cm to 8.0 cm.        -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth.        -   Venation pattern.—Reticulate.        -   Vein color.—Upper surface: RHS 185A. Lower surface: RHS            181A.        -   Bract color.—Upper surface: Between RHS 46A and RHS 46B.            Lower surface: Close to RHS 47A.        -   Bract petiole.—Length: 1.0 cm to 2.0 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm.            Color: Upper (part) surface: RHS 185B. Lower (part) surface:            RHS 181A.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Strength.—Medium.-   Cyme:    -   -   Diameter: 1.5 cm.        -   Cyathia number.—4 to 6 per inflorescence.        -   Deformation of glands of the cyathium.—Absent.        -   Cyathium.—Shape: Ovoid. Diameter: 0.3 cm to 0.5 cm. Length:            0.4 cm to 0.7 cm. Color: RHS 143C.        -   Peduncle.—Color: RHS 144C. Length: 0.2 cm to 0.3 cm.            Diameter: 0.2 cm. Texture: Smooth. Strength: Strong.        -   Nectar cups.—Number: 1 per cyathium. Diameter: 0.1 cm.            Length: 0.2 cm to 0.3 cm. Color: RHS 13A to RHS 14C.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamen quantity.—5 to 10 per cyanthium.        -   Stamen shape.—Ovoid.        -   Filament length.—0.2 cm.        -   Filament color.—RHS 46A.        -   Pollen quantity.—Moderate.        -   Pollen color.—RHS 9A to RHS 12A.        -   Gynoecium.—Not observed.-   Fruit and seed set: None observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINE AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘NPCW15237’ is distinguished from its parent ‘NPCW10164’ as described inTable 1.

TABLE 1 Characteristic Variety ‘NPCW15237’ Parent ‘NPCW10164’ Number ofbracts per 7 to 8 8 to 10 inflorescence Number of leaves per 5 to 6 8 to15 lateral branch Vigor Low Medium

‘NPCW15237’ can be compared to the commercial Poinsettia plant variety‘Premium Red’ (Patent status unknown). Differences between the twovarieties are described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic Variety‘NPCW15237’ ‘Premium Red’ Bract color Bright red Dark red Bract sizeMedium Large

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of poinsettia plant named‘NPCW15237’ as illustrated and described herein.